Apple may launch a new Mac mini next month, according to a Belgian electronics retailer that’s already listing two versions of the new computer. While Apple has not refreshed its Mac mini line since late October 2012, a Computerstore.be representative told a MacRumors reader that the data from its listing comes from “Apple or reliable sources,” and that the new computer will be released at some point by the end of February. More →

Phil Schiller, Apple’s (AAPL) senior vice president of worldwide marketing, on Tuesday officially announced the availability of three new Mac mini models during the company’s media event in San Francisco. The miniature computer is equipped with an upgraded Ivy Bridge processor that can be had in either a dual-core or a quad-core set up, along with 4GB of RAM, integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000, Bluetooth 4.0 and a standard 500GB hard drive. Additionally, the Cupertino-based company will also be offering a high-end server model with 2TB of storage and a 2.3 GHz quad-core i7 processor. The Mac mini is available now starting at $599.

Apple (AAPL) leaks have started coming fast and furious and now 9to5Mac has also revealed specifications for the new Mac mini. According to the website, the Mac mini will come in three different models: a 500GB model with a 2.5 GHz dual-core processor, a 1TB model with a 2.3 GHz quad-core processor and a high-end server model with 2TB of storage and a 2.3 GHz quad-core processor. All three Mac mini models will come with 4GB of RAM.

In addition to the iPad mini, Apple (AAPL) is expected to unveil new iMacs and Mac minisat next Tuesday’s press conference. The iMac is rumored to be getting a redesign with a thinner profile that resembles a water droplet and the Mac mini will be getting a healthy spec boost with USB 3.0 ports, faster processors and more RAM. According to 9to5Mac, Apple will sell both computers with price points that are the same or very close to what current iMacs and Mac minis sell for; the Mac mini will reportedly sell at $599, $799 and $999 and the iMac will fall somewhere in line with $1,199, $1,499, $1,699 and $1,999. Based on those prices, 9to5Mac believes that it’s highly unlikely that the iMacs will sport Retina displays as the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display has a significant premium price over the non-Retina models.

As if an iPad mini, 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro and new redesigned iMacs wouldn’t be enough, Apple (AAPL) may also announce updated Mac minis at its October 23rd event. 9to5Mac’s sources say there will be two standard configurations with different processors and storage as well as an OS X Server model. The new Mac mini will also get its USB 2.0 ports bumped up to 3.0 ones. The Apple rumors blog didn’t mention any redesign, nor did it reveal pricing. The updated Mac mini will reportedly be available immediately after its announced.

Apple’s OS X Lion was downloaded more than 1 million times during its first day of availability, Apple said on Thursday. The Cupertino-based company made the announcement just as Microsoft announced its earnings results for the fiscal fourth quarter — merely a coincidence, we’re sure. Presuming these were paid OS X purchases and upgrades, Apple grossed more than $30 million from Lion in just one day. “Lion is off to a great start, user reviews and industry reaction have been fantastic,” said Phil Schiller, Apple’s SVP of Worldwide Product Marketing, in a statement. “Lion is a huge step forward, it’s not only packed with innovative features but it’s incredibly easy for users to update their Macs to the best OS we’ve ever made.” OS X 10.7 Lion is available now in the Mac App Store for $29.99. Apple’s full press release follows below. More →

It wasn’t exactly a secret, but now the proverbial big cat is out of the bag. Apple has just updated the company’s best-selling computer product, the MacBook Air with a Core i5/i7 option, better storage, Thunderbolt port, and finally, a backlit keyboard (again). Mac minis are updated as well, at long last bringing them up to speed with current processors and features.

The other big story is obviously OS X Lion which is Apple’s most iOS-like release yet, and it slowly starts to bridge PC and post-PC devices. Lion is a major OS update with more than 250 new features, and it’s available for $29 through the Mac App Store starting now. More →

MacBook Air 11″: Built to order model: 1.8GHz CPU, 4GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage

MacBook Air 13″: Base model: 1.7GHz CPU, 4GB of RAM, 128GB of storage

MacBook Air 13″: 1.7GHz CPU, 4GB of RAM, 256GB of storage

MacBook Air 13″: Built to order: 1.8GHz CPU, 4GB of RAM, 256GB of storage

The Mac minis are reported to run new Intel Sand Bridge chips, while the MacBook Airs run Intel’s Core i5 and i7 processors. Launching alongside the new MacBook Airs and Mac minis are a new Apple display, though the only difference seems to be the name, rebranded as the Apple Thunderbolt Display, and the ability to have a VESA-compatible mount for them. We’ll see in only a couple hours, and these new models could go on sale as early as today. More →

Apple news site MacRumors on Friday discovered images of a new LED Display on Apple’s website. While the OS X Lion wallpaper could have meant that these are simply new product shots as opposed to an updated model we’re looking at, the URL of the image features the recently revealed part number “MC914.” This part number corresponds with a number seen in a recent leak that identified multiple forthcoming refreshed Apple products. The new LED Display will be nearly identical to the current model, though it will include a Thunderbolt I/O port for connectivity to Mac computers. Apple’s upcoming mid-2011 MacBook, MacBook Air and Mac mini refreshes are all expected to include new Thunderbolt ports as well. More →

We’ve already heard that new MacBook Air and Mac Pro models are on the way, and now there’s a report that Apple is poised to refresh its MacBook and Mac mini computers in the near future, too. According to 9to5 Mac, Apple will soon launch a new MacBook, part number MC914LL/A, with Thunderbolt I/O ports and a faster processor. Similarly, the Cupertino-based firm is expected to refresh its Mac mini line with new server model and standard models. There’s a possibility that a third built-to-order model will be available with a faster processor, too. According to 9to5 Mac the model numbers are:

Apple just took the wraps off of its new 3TB Time Capsuleautomatic wireless backup hard drive. The company said that it will continue to offer a 2TB version of its Time Capsule alongside the new 3TB version, and it doesn’t look like there are any other differentiating specs. Apple appears to have also quietly updated its Airport Extreme product with support for up to 450Mbps file transfers over both 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands, and the website has also been refreshed a bit. The 2TB Time Capsule drive is now available for $299 and the new 3TB model will set you back $499.

Apple is poised to release updated models of its Mac Pro and Mac mini computers at the end of July or the first week of August, according to Tweets from one CNET editor. Both families are expected to be updated with Intel Sandy Bridge processors as well as the new Thunderbolt I/O ports. Unfortunately, there still isn’t a whole lot of information on what other hardware or changes will be offered in the refresh, but CNET does say that the new computers will be preloaded with OS X Lion. The rumor is in line with the Cupertino-based firm’s past refresh history: Apple last updated its Mac Pro line on July 27th, when it introduced its new 12-core models, and the Mac mini was last refreshed on June 15th, 2010. More →